Wright-Phillips left stunned by Bouaddi's calmness
Shaun Wright-Phillips has seen a fair bit of football in his time. The former City winger, who came through the ranks at Maine Road and later returned to the Etihad, knows a player when he watches one. And what he has witnessed from Ayyoub Bouaddi has left him genuinely taken aback.
Speaking to Betway, Wright-Phillips didn't hold back in his assessment of the 18-year-old, who arrived from Lille in the summer for a fee that could reach £86m. "The flashes I've seen of him, I don't think I've seen somebody as calm as him on the ball in that position in the Premier League at the age of 18," he said.
"He just knows where to put his body. He's a big person as well, and he plays those passes that cut lines as well. I've seen him drive with the ball, so he's got a lot of aspects to him."
That is high praise from a man who spent years watching some of the best midfielders in Europe up close. Wright-Phillips is among many who believe City have a special player on their hands.
A talent honed early
What makes Bouaddi's composure all the more remarkable is the sheer volume of football he has already played. Before he even pulled on a Morocco shirt at the World Cup, he had two full seasons of senior football under his belt. That kind of grounding at such a tender age is rare.
His adaptation to English football has been gradual, though. Enzo Maresca has handed him just 22 minutes of league action so far this season, and he was an unused substitute against Sunderland last weekend. Patience is clearly the watchword.
But when opportunities have come, Bouaddi has taken them. He impressed in the Champions League against Porto, and he contributed an assist in the 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Norwich City. Those flashes have been enough to convince Wright-Phillips that City have a gem.
Midfield logjam
The challenge for Bouaddi is the fierce competition for places in midfield, especially after Enzo Fernandez's arrival from Chelsea. Breaking into that department is no small task, even for a player of his undoubted ability.
Maresca has options aplenty, and the teenager will have to bide his time. But if Wright-Phillips is right, that patience will be rewarded. The former winger clearly believes Bouaddi is already the best young midfielder in the Premier League when it comes to using the ball.
For City fans, it is another reminder that the club's recruitment machine continues to unearth talent. And if Bouaddi's development continues on its current trajectory, the £86m outlay could look like pocket change.